Volunteer Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions for the 2026-27 school year
Why are volunteer requirements changing for the 2026-27 school year?
California Senate Bill 848 established new requirements for school volunteers. To comply with the law and ensure the safety of our students, all volunteers must complete the updated volunteer clearance process, including completion of the annual online Child Abuse Prevention Training.
Who must complete the new volunteer process?
All volunteers, regardless of their role or previous approval status, must complete the updated process.
What are the TB clearance requirements?
As part of the updated volunteer process, volunteers must complete one of the following:
- A certificate verifying the TB screening has been administered and signed by a medical professional. If your medical provider wishes, they may use the form linked below.
- OR official documentation from a licensed healthcare provider indicating you have already been assessed and cleared of TB within the past four years. If your TB clearance expires during this school year, you will need to obtain a new TB clearance from your medical provider in order to volunteer.
Is the district providing TB screening to volunteers?
No. The state requires that a medical professional review and sign off on the TB screening questionnaire or provide testing results.
The resources below are provided as a convenience to assist you in locating healthcare services. Please contact each provider directly for information about appointments, eligibility, and any associated costs.
Do employees who also want to volunteer need to complete the TB clearance requirement?
If you are a San Juan Unified School District employee and also wish to volunteer for the 2026-27 school year, you will not need to complete the TB clearance requirement since it is already a requirement for employment.
How long can previously-cleared volunteers provide volunteer services before needing to complete the updated requirements?
The district will honor each current volunteer's existing level of clearance through Sept. 24, 2026. Beginning Sept. 25, 2026, all volunteers must have completed the updated Senate Bill 848 and TB clearance requirements in order to continue volunteering.
What happens if previously-cleared volunteers do not complete the updated requirements by Sept. 24?
Previously-cleared volunteers who have not completed the required documentation by Sept. 24 will not be eligible to volunteer after that date until all required materials have been submitted and approved. We encourage all previously-cleared volunteers to complete the updated requirements as soon as possible.
When should volunteers submit documentation?
Volunteers are encouraged to submit all required documentation as soon as possible to avoid delays in approval and to ensure they are eligible to volunteer after Sept. 24.
What about new volunteers?
New volunteers will have the same requirements and can begin their application at: sanjuan.edu/volunteer
How do I find volunteer opportunities?
Volunteers should contact the school site or department of interest directly for information regarding volunteer opportunities. A volunteer is an unpaid person who assists under the direct or indirect supervision of a district employee. Examples include (but are not limited to):
- Regularly scheduled classroom support including teacher student interns
- Field trip chaperone or *driver
- After-School program support
Who needs to complete the volunteer verification process?
Visitors and observers are not considered volunteers and do not need to complete the verification or be fingerprinted. Visitors or observers are parents/guardians and other interested members of the community that are invited to campus for a specific purpose with staff supervision, or for extracurricular events such as:
- Parent/teacher conferences
- School-wide events (Back to School Night, Open House, student performances, etc.)
- Program presenters
- Classroom observations
What is required to volunteer in public schools?
Verification is for all school sites and only needs to be completed once. All volunteers, regardless of the type of volunteer experience they will be participating in, must complete the verification process.
Volunteers who work directly with students, *drive/accompany students on field trips or may be left unsupervised with students for any amount of time are required to be fingerprinted as part of a criminal background check and must be cleared as a volunteer from the District prior to contact with students. Volunteers are held to the same standards as all district employees. State law restricts involvement of people with convictions for sexual crimes, drug crimes, or serious or violent felonies.
Volunteers and visitors are required to follow school procedures and emergency health protocol in accordance with district policy, state and local laws. Volunteers and visitors shall register immediately upon entering any school building or grounds during school business hours and sign out when leaving.
Early Childhood Education/Preschool sites require proof of additional immunizations.
What is required to drive for a field trip?
Drivers must be at least 21 years of age, are required to complete an auto usage form through the school office, have a valid California Driver’s License and appropriate automobile insurance.
Is there a cost for fingerprinting and what do I need for a background review?
Currently, fingerprinting services are available at no cost, by appointment at the district office. Former district employees and those verified by other organizations will also need to be fingerprinted.
A valid photo ID is required for fingerprinting. Proof of residency/citizenship is not required for individuals to volunteer.
Is my background review confidential?
Background reports contain highly sensitive information and are treated as such. Specific information contained in the report is limited to the Superintendent’s designee in order to designate an appropriate clearance level and is not shared.
What if I disagree with my clearance level?
To appeal your clearance level or request a copy of your criminal history record, you may email fphr@sanjuan.edu.
What if I have additional questions about volunteering?
If you have additional questions regarding volunteering or need assistance with your volunteer application or accessing the training, please contact the Volunteer team at: (916) 971-7935 or volunteer@sanjuan.edu.